From Wikitravel

Band-e Amir are a group of lakes in Afghanistan. They sit at an altitude of 2900m.

[edit] Get in

Most easily visited from Bamiyan. Shared minivans leave from Bamiyan in the high season on Thursday afternoon and Friday morning and cost 150 Afg. Otherwise take a minivan towards Yakawlang (200Af) and get off at the turn-off to the lakes. From there it's a 3 hour hot walk... bring some water.

Private hire minivans are also available and should cost 2000-2500Af, but you will have to bargain very hard for this price. The journey takes 3 hours (one way). You could also bargain an overnight stay into the price for a little extra. Don't be shy to ask them to stop for pics on the way, the scenery is stunning. Not clear if access ticket or parking fee: at the entrance to the lakes the vehicle has to get a ticket for 50 Afs.

[edit][add listing] See

There are 5 lakes, all worth seeing and in close proximity.

If possible try to be up on the road at the top of Band-e Haibat at sunrise (in October the ideal time was 6am) for some great views and, if the water is calm, some stunning reflections of the surrounding mountains in the lake.

A trail from behind Hotel de Reves leads up the hill, and a 20 minute walk brings you to some stunning views of 2 more of the lakes.

The small mosque-like tomb of Amir looks over Band-e Haibat, and unfortunately there are 5 tacky swan peddle boats available for rent here... a good opportunity to ruin the beautiful reflections in the lake.

Behind the tomb of Amir is a "women's beach", with a hut built half into the water, allowing women to enjoy a bath in the lake covered from curious views. Taking a bath in the lake is said to cure from diseases (though a lot of rubbish in and around the lake lets one fear the opposite).

[edit] Sleep & Eat

• Dir Hotel, Band-e Haibat, is a chaikana and the only place to sleep and eat. A mat on the floor costs 100Af/person, and meals are 120-150Af. They also have 3 very basic dirty rooms in a building next door, ambitiously named Hotel de Reves (dream hotel). Also mats on the floor, and also 100Af/person, although most people prefer the much warmer main room at Dir.

The adventurer among the visitors may use the public tent space with the only public toilet around. Apparently some tents are set up for rent.

At the parking lot near Band-e Haibat some booths are set up, selling some basics, with a very minimal selection... a few biscuits, some batteries, and maybe some mango juice packets.

Everything closes up from around mid-November and reopens around March.

[edit][add listing] Drink

Bottled water is not available, but there is a spring which should be fine to drink from. Dir Hotel can provide you with endless pots of green tea (5Af).

[edit] Get out

This is a usable article. It has information about the region and for getting in, as well as links to a few destinations. An adventurous person could use this article, but please plunge forward and help it grow!